Marcine Angela Early

Marcine Angela Early, Ph.D., age 62, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at Mt. Carmel West Hospital after a 7 ½ year battle with Alzheimer’s. Marcine was a loving mother, best friend, grandmother and teacher. She graduated from East High School, received her Bachelor’s Degree from Rio Grande College, and her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. She was employed by the Columbus Public School System for 29 years and, in her earlier years, worked part time for Columbus Recreation and Parks as a lifeguard and recreation instructor. Marcine played softball and basketball in high school and college. She played fast pitch softball for Buyer’s All-star’s, and played as well as coached for the Columbus Oreo’s. She also coached basketball at CTI (now known as Columbus State), as well as Mohawk and Clinton Middle Schools. She coached Double Dutch and was President of the Ohio American Double Dutch League, and an Executive Board Member of the National Double Dutch League Organization. She dedicated her life to children and touched the lives of so many students and people around her. She will forever be remembered for her devotion to her family. She loved traveling, going to various casino’s and playing bingo. She will sorely be missed by her family and friends She was preceded in death by her parents, Shirley and Jerome Early, grandparents, other relatives and special friend and “mother” of her children, Brenda Faye Wakefield. Those left to cherish her memory include her lifelong friend and caregiver, Timberly S. Leffler; her “children,” Michael, Christopher (Courtney), Brenna (Brian), Brendan (Ruqayyah), Tyquan, Brittany (Eric), and Adrienne Wakefield; godchildren, Neshia, Tameka (Chris), Ricky Wakefield, Tomika Patterson, Mika Marteina, AJ Davis, and Gregory Price; grandchildren, Asia-Tia, Justin (JR), Ayianna, Amaria, Amarian, Drayce, Quran, Tareca, Reco (Wittle), Tyrec, Eric Jr., Bre’Air, Baby Allyson, and Baby Brendan Jr.; special aunt, Mary Emma Milner-Sumlin; cousins, Shelia Kidd and family, Carol Jean Prater and family; sister, Pamela Harris and family; best friends, Karin Watson, Karen Wyrick and family, and Shirley (Pledge) Petersen; brothers, Cavell Early and Trac Leffler; niece, Dionne Stewart; and many other family and friends.